The Cattle Drive

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After the Civil War, when soldiers After the Civil War, when soldiers came home to Texas they found the came home to Texas they found the

place swarming with place swarming with longhornlonghorn cattle.cattle.

http://www.cowboyshowcase.com/longhorn_cattle.htm

LonghornsLonghorns are a tough breed and are a tough breed and walk great distances. And, if there walk great distances. And, if there

is grass to chew, they can even is grass to chew, they can even fatten up on the journey.fatten up on the journey.

http://www.cowboyshowcase.com/longhorn_cattle.htm

http://www.assadtexaslonghorns.com/

The Texas longhorn were The Texas longhorn were descended from cattle brought to descended from cattle brought to

America by Columbus and the America by Columbus and the Spaniards who followed him. Spaniards who followed him.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/reedco/3208937664http://www.luisprada.com/Protected/IMAGES/christopher_columbus1.jpg

The longhorns were running loose on The longhorns were running loose on the range. They bred and multiplied the range. They bred and multiplied and were so numerous that people and were so numerous that people

were killing them for their hides and were killing them for their hides and throwing away the meat.throwing away the meat.

http://www.assadtexaslonghorns.com/

The ex-soldiers knew beef was The ex-soldiers knew beef was expensive back east. Now, if they expensive back east. Now, if they

could find a way to get those cattle could find a way to get those cattle east, there was money to be made.east, there was money to be made.

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/cattle3-2.html

About this time, About this time, Jesse ChisolmJesse Chisolm, , drove a herd of cattle north from drove a herd of cattle north from

Texas to Kansas and made a map of Texas to Kansas and made a map of his route.his route.

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/cattle.html

That route had plenty of grass for That route had plenty of grass for grazing and enough water and it led grazing and enough water and it led

to Abilene, Kansas. In Abilene, to Abilene, Kansas. In Abilene, cattle were selling for $40 a head. cattle were selling for $40 a head. Forty dollars was a lot of money in Forty dollars was a lot of money in

those days, especially since you those days, especially since you could get longhorn in Texas for could get longhorn in Texas for

about $5.about $5.

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/cattle.html

The Kansas Pacific Railroad reached The Kansas Pacific Railroad reached Abilene in 1867, cattle could be Abilene in 1867, cattle could be

shipped east in railroad cattle cars. shipped east in railroad cattle cars. Most cows got shipped to Chicago, Most cows got shipped to Chicago,

Illinois.Illinois.

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/ironmountain.html

When refrigerated railroad cars were When refrigerated railroad cars were developed, Chicago became the developed, Chicago became the

meatpacking capital of the country. meatpacking capital of the country. Most of the cattle that traveled the Most of the cattle that traveled the Chisolm Trail got turned into steaks Chisolm Trail got turned into steaks

in Chicago.in Chicago.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tiffany_RRG_1877.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Steak_03_bg_040306.jpg

For the next 20 years, the For the next 20 years, the Chisolm Chisolm TrailTrail was a ribbon of longhorn. More was a ribbon of longhorn. More

than a million cattle were driven than a million cattle were driven north on the trail. Who drove the north on the trail. Who drove the cattle? Why, cowboys, of course.cattle? Why, cowboys, of course.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_drive

Cowboys were paid about $90 for Cowboys were paid about $90 for the two-to-three month journey the two-to-three month journey

from the Texas panhandle, across from the Texas panhandle, across the Red River, through Indian the Red River, through Indian

territory, over deserts, and prairies.territory, over deserts, and prairies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cowboy.jpg

It was the cattlemen, who owned the It was the cattlemen, who owned the cows and steers, who got rich.cows and steers, who got rich.

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/cattle.html

Some people call cowboys “Some people call cowboys “knights knights of the prairieof the prairie.” and they were like .” and they were like knights, they rode with amazing knights, they rode with amazing

skill, handled danger and bravado, skill, handled danger and bravado, and had their own code of honor.and had their own code of honor.

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/cattleriver.html

It was not an easy life. There were It was not an easy life. There were killers on the Chisolm Trail, brutal killers on the Chisolm Trail, brutal heat, blizzards, hail, angry Indians, heat, blizzards, hail, angry Indians, rattlesnakes, quicksand, rustlers, rattlesnakes, quicksand, rustlers,

bandits, thirst, and…bandits, thirst, and…

http://www.firstpeople.us/american-indian/people/ls/atsina-warriors.jpg

and…most common of all, and…most common of all, stampedes. A herd of cattle will stampedes. A herd of cattle will stampede at the drop of a frying stampede at the drop of a frying

pan. pan.

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/cattleogallala.html

Cowboys were usually up before Cowboys were usually up before dawn and were often still hard at dawn and were often still hard at work into the night. But there was work into the night. But there was something about the life that most something about the life that most

of them loved. As one cowhand of them loved. As one cowhand said…..said…..

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/cattle3-3.html

““To ride around the big steers at To ride around the big steers at night, all lying down full as a night, all lying down full as a tick, chewing their cuds and tick, chewing their cuds and

blowing, with the moon shining blowing, with the moon shining down on their big horns, was a down on their big horns, was a

sight to make a man’s eyes sight to make a man’s eyes poppop.”.”

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/cattleriver.html

Pretty soon it got to be a regular Pretty soon it got to be a regular thing, traveling the thing, traveling the Chisolm TrailChisolm Trail. . Herds of two or three thousand Herds of two or three thousand

cattle became common. cattle became common.

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/cattle.html

Usually a dozen cowboys were hired Usually a dozen cowboys were hired to handle a herd, with a trial boss to handle a herd, with a trial boss and cook. The cook was important. and cook. The cook was important. Cowboys got ornery if the coffee Cowboys got ornery if the coffee

wasn’t strong and the food decent.wasn’t strong and the food decent.

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/cattle4-2.html

Like other Americans, cowboys were Like other Americans, cowboys were a mixture, some white, some black, a mixture, some white, some black,

some Mexican, some, like Jesse some Mexican, some, like Jesse Chisholm, part Indian.Chisholm, part Indian.

http://www.africanaonline.com/Graphic/black_cowboys.jpg

Some were women. People were Some were women. People were judged by what they could do, not judged by what they could do, not

by the color of their skin, the accent by the color of their skin, the accent in their speech, or their sex.in their speech, or their sex.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/37606659@N06/3545845150/

Most cowhands wore tight-fitting Most cowhands wore tight-fitting clothes, leather chaps, floppy vests, clothes, leather chaps, floppy vests,

fancy boots, and broad-brimmed fancy boots, and broad-brimmed hats, clothes adapted from those of hats, clothes adapted from those of the cattlemen who had come from the cattlemen who had come from

Spain. Spain.

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/cattle2.html

Much cowboy lingo was Spanish: Much cowboy lingo was Spanish: chapschaps,, lariat lariat,, rodeo rodeo, , ranchranch..

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/cattle2.html

It was a lonely life they led, so they It was a lonely life they led, so they livened it up by singing around the livened it up by singing around the

campfire, or telling tall tales. campfire, or telling tall tales.

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/cattle.html

Abilene was the first of the Wild Abilene was the first of the Wild West towns, and maybe the wildest West towns, and maybe the wildest of them all, with saloons and pistol-of them all, with saloons and pistol-packing cowpunchers raring for a packing cowpunchers raring for a

good time.good time.

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/cattleogallala.htmlhttp://www.legendsofamerica.com/photos-kansas/Dodge%20City,%201878-500.jpg

A town like that needed a marshal, A town like that needed a marshal, and Abilene go the most famous one and Abilene go the most famous one

of all. James Butler (of all. James Butler (Wild BillWild Bill) ) Hickok. Hickok.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wild_Bill_Hickok

Hickok had been a gambling man who Hickok had been a gambling man who had two pearl-handled pistols and had two pearl-handled pistols and was known as the “fastest draw in was known as the “fastest draw in

the West.”the West.”

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-BillHickok.html

Hickok could shoot the hat off a man Hickok could shoot the hat off a man and keep the hat in the air with his and keep the hat in the air with his bullets and when it finally dropped bullets and when it finally dropped it would be rimmed with a circle of it would be rimmed with a circle of bullet holes. At least that was the bullet holes. At least that was the

story he told.story he told.

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/July-August-08/On-this-Day--Wild-Bill-Hickok-Duels-Davis-Tutt.html

Wild Bill was paid a big salary, $150 a Wild Bill was paid a big salary, $150 a month, for keeping law and order in month, for keeping law and order in

Abilene. He did a fair job for a Abilene. He did a fair job for a while, although most of the time his while, although most of the time his

office was at a gambling table.office was at a gambling table.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wild-Bill-3.jpg

After a while, Abilene settled down After a while, Abilene settled down and became respectable. After that and became respectable. After that

the cowboys and their longhorns the cowboys and their longhorns headed for the new towns of Wichita headed for the new towns of Wichita

and Dodge City. and Dodge City.

http://www.legendsofamerica.com/photos-kansas/Dodge%20City%20Gathering-500.jpg

About 1875, Dodge City became the About 1875, Dodge City became the main railhead for shipping cattle main railhead for shipping cattle

eastward. Most say it was an even eastward. Most say it was an even wilder place than Abilene.wilder place than Abilene.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WyattEarp-andothers.jpghttp://www.legendsofamerica.com/photos-kansas/Dodge%20City,%201878-500.jpg

Dodge City, 1874

But by the end of the century, when But by the end of the century, when railroadsrailroads crisscrossed the land, and crisscrossed the land, and barbed wirebarbed wire fenced it in, the heyday fenced it in, the heyday

of the wild cow towns was over.of the wild cow towns was over.

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/cattlemittie.html